Adjustable link assembly for a crane hook



ADJUSTABLE LINK ASSEMBLY EoEA CRANE Hoox Filed oci. 29. 195s A; s. HAUGH ETAL July 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTOR.

BY E 44,7444

,TT'QZVEV July 22, 1958 AA. s. HAUGH ETAL 2,8449404 ADJUSTABLE LINK ASSEMBLY FOR A CRANE HOOK Filed 001'.. 29, 1953 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7L L 5^/ S. ,Um/G# 6504,65 /M ,fax

INVENToR.

#frans/41 United States Patent O 2,844,404 ADJUSTABLE LINK ASSEMBLY FOR A CRANE HOOK Allen S. Haugh, Los Angeles, and George M. Fox, Maywood, Calif.

Application October 29, 1953, Serial No. 389,138 Claims. (Cl. 294-74) This invention relates to an adjustable link assembly for a crane hook and more particularly to a link assembly positioned between a crane hook and the load being handled which will permit adjustment in the position and attitude of the load without changing the location of the crane hook. A

The usual type of link presently in use is comprised of a ring positioned on the crane hook and having two or more cables extending therefrom to the material being handled. In order to tilt or adjust the attitude of the material with such a link, it is necessary to release the cables so that the effective length of one or more of the cables can be changed. This requires that the material must be set down while the cables are being adjusted and then again hoisted into desired location. LIn the case of light loads, the load can be manually moved into a tilted position but it cannot be accurately and permanently held in the desired location.

By the present invention a link assembly is providedk which has two degrees of freedom about the crane hook` so that, without moving the position of the crane hook, the material being handled can be moved about two axes at right angles to each other. Such a link assembly can be utilized for removing or installing engines inV automobiles and in other locations since the engine block can be tipped or tilted into a position parallel with 4the engine mount. The link assembly of the present invention can kalso be used to advantage in the loading of ships and `other carriers ,since the material can betilted independently of the crane hook so that itcan be positioned directly in therdesiredV location. Generally the link assembly can be utilized to advantage for the handling` off any heavy material where tilting or turning is required. Since most crane hooks can be twisted about their supporting cable, it is apparent that with the use of the present invention, the material being handled can be rotated about three axes for any givenposition of i the crane hook, vnamely about the two adjustable axes of the link and about the axis of the hook.

l The invention contemplates the use of a rotatable rod to which material supporting cables are attached andthis rod is secured to' a body portion of the link assembly which is rotatable about an axis at rightzangles to the axis of the rod. The rotation of the rod and link body portion can be accomplished either with manual handles or with any known power devices.

yIt is therefore an object of the-present invention to provide `an adjustable link assembly for use with a crane hookwhich is capable of tilting or rotating the crane load about two axes inV order to `exactly place the' load in the desired position. v

Another object of the inventionv is the provision of an adjustable link assembly which is interposed between a crane hook and the load and which can adjust the load into any `desired tilted position and thereafter permanently heldin this position.

A further object ofY the invention is vto provide a crane ice link assembly having a body portion which is rotatable about one axis and which mounts a rod rotatable about an axis at right angles to the body portion axis.

These and other objects of the invention, not specically enumerated above, will become readily apparent from the accompanying description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the crane link assembly of the present invention illustrating the cables of the link attached to a load.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view along line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the rotatable rod of the link assembly in a tilted position.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view along line 3--3 of Figure 2 illustrating the adjustment means for the rotatable body portion of the link assembly.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the link assembly along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the link assembly along line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 3 showing the manner in which a large size link assembly can be equipped with an electric motor for rotating the body portion of the link assembly.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 3 showing the manner in which the rotatable rod of a large size link assembly can be moved by an electric motor.

The embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration comprises a link assembly positioned between crane hook 8 and load 9 as shown in Figure l. The link assembly has a support member 10 composed of two arms 11 and 12 which are welded together at' one end and are .spaced apart at the other end. The end at which the arms come together carries a ring 13 welded to both arms and thsring is placed over crane hook 8 in order to support the adjustable link assembly. The spaced apart ends of arms 11 and 12 receive a body member 14 and the body member is pivotally supported by a bolt 15 passing through openings in'both arms and the body portion. A nut 16, having a cotter pin 17, serves to retain the bolt 15 within the openings without binding the arms against the body member so that u the body portion is free to pivot relative to the arms.

The body member contains a groove or arcuate slot 18 more clearly seen in Fig. 1 in relation to the entire assembly, in the form of. a segment of a circle whichv has its center at bolt 15. A pin 18 projects through the groove 18 and through openings in both arms 11 and 12 and carries at one end a head portionv19 having a threaded against body member `14. A second pin 23 projects through the body member 14 and has a head portion 24 at one end which contains an Unthreaded opening for receiving adjustable screw 20. The other end of pin 23 receives a nut 25 which is held in place by cotter pln 26. Thus, both pins 18 and 23 are securely retalned in position and are entirely free to rotate.

The screw 20 has two stops 27 and 28 rigidly secured thereto, and these stops are positioned adjacent to andv on opposrte sides of head portion 24. One end of the screw 20 has a square section head 29 which is insertable into an opening or socket in handle or socket wrench 29 so that the screw can be turned by turning the wrench.

'.lurning of the screw 20 screws it through head portion 19 1n one direction or the other and either stop 27 or 28 will drivingly engage head portion 24 in order to move or ypivot the body member 14 relative to the arms 11 and 12 around the axis of the bolt 15. 4The groove 18 will permit this relative movement without interference from pm 18', since the groove or slot 18 is arcuate in form, having a radius equal Ato the distance of pin 18 from bolt 1 5. Also, since pins 185 and 23 are free to rotate, the position of the screw 20 is free to change without binding when the distance between head portions 19v and 24 is varied by turning of thescrew. l

The bottom of the body members 14 carries two brackets 30 and 31, each of which has two arms positioned on opposite sides of the body member and secured thereto by screws 32. Each bracket has a cylin-y drical or loop section 33 positioned directly below the bottom edge of body member 14 and a rod 34 is pivotal-` ly supported by Ythese loop sections r33 inthe plane of pivotal movement of the body member 14. The rod.

34 rigidly carries at each `end an attachment in the form of va yoke or crossarm 35 which extends transversely perpendicular to the rod axis and non-rotatably secured thereto. These axially spaced yokes 35 are formed with two openings 36, one on each side of the rod pro viding a four point support for the load 9. Each opening 36 receives one end of a supporting cable 37, while the other end of each cable is secured to an attaching means 38 connected to the load. It is apparent that any known form of attaching means can be utilized at the end of the four cables 37 depending upon the type of load being handled.

The bottom edge of the body portion 14 is formed with a notch 38 for receiving a worm wheel 39 secured to rod 34. Also, two projections or lugs 40 are secured to opposite sides of the body member 14 in a position directly above notch 38. A bracket 41 has a section 42 secured to projections 40 by screws 43 and has another section 44 which carries two lugs 45 having openings to rotatably mount the journal ends 46 of a worm 47 A handwheel 48 is secured to one end of worm 47 and has a handle 49 comprised of pin 50 and a rotatable handgrip 51. It is apparent that when handwheel 48 is manually rotated, the rod 34 will be turned to adjust the angular positions of yoke attachments 35 about the axis of the rod, and, since a cable 37 is secured to each side of the load, a corresponding angular movement of the load will also result.

In operation, the link assembly is attached to the load 9by the four spaced cables 37, and the load will be placed as close as possible to its desired location by movement of the crane hook 8. Thereafter, if desirable, the load can be tilted about one of its axes in one direction or the other by turning screw 20 in one direction or the other to move the body portion 14 relative to arms 11 and 12, and can also be tilted about the axis of rod 34 in one direction or the other by turning of the worm 47 through the handwheel 48 in one direction or the other. Depending on the `adjustment in position required, either or both the screw 20 and worm 47 may be operated until the load is positioned in the desired attitude and location so that it can be released. For instance, such an adjustment is necessary in order to place an engine upon its mounting members in correct position to receive the securing bolts. By using the crane link of the present invention, a single operator can position the engine and secure it in place.

In the event that large crane links are utilized in connection with very large and heavy loads, the manually operable screw 20 and worm 47y can be operated by lany type of power means mounted directly on the crane link or connected to the crane link tthrough flexible drive means. Figure 6 illustrates the manner in which an electric motor 52 is secured by bolts 53 to the body portion 14 and the shaft 54 of the motor drives screw 20 through reduction gearing 55. In Figure 7, the electric motor 52 is `shown mounted by screws 53 on the body member 14 in position to drive worm4 47 through reduction gearing 55, and of course, two motors could be 4 utilized on a single crane-link to drive both screw 20 and worm 47.

By the present invention, a crane link assembly is provided which is sturdy in construction and easy to operate. The invention is not limited to the particular manner and mechanism for adjusting the position of the load but relates generally to a crane link assembly which can position the load about one or both of two separate axes. By placing the axes at right angles, the load can be positioned in any desired attitude. While the invention has been described as utilizing four cables 37, it is apparent that only two cables can be used, in which event the load would be movable about only one axis. Various other modifications are contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable link assembly for supporting a load by a crane hook at variable angular positions there between, said link assembly comprising a support member adapted to be attached to a crane hook, a body member, means for supporting said body member by said support member pivotally about a iirst axis, rst means operatively connected to said support member and said body member for pivotally adjusting the relative angular position between said support member and said body member around said first axis, a rod rotatably mounted on said body member about a second axis positioned at an angle to said rst axis, a pair of yokes extending transversely of and non-'rotatably secured to said rod in l axially` spaced relationship therealong for supporting a load, and second means operatively connected to said rod and said body member for adjusting the .relative angular position between said rod and said body member around said second axis, said rst and second angular adjusting means providing for relative pivotal adjustment -about said first and second axes respectively of a load supported by said yoke means.

,2. An adjustable link assembly as deined in claim lwherein said rst means comprises a first pin rotatably mounted on said support member and having a threaded opening, a second pin rotatably mounted on said body portion and having an unthreaded opening, a screw member threaded in said threaded opening and passing through said unthreaded opening, stop means connected to said screw member and positioned on opposite sides of said second pin unthreaded opening, and means for rotating said screw member.

3. An adjustable link assembly as dened in claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a worm wheel secured to said rod, a Worm rotatably supported by said body member in mesh with said worm Wheel, and means for rotating said Worm.

4. An adjustable link assembly for supporting a load by a crane hook at various angular positions therebetween, said link assembly comprising a support member adapted to be attached to a crane hook, a body member, means for supporting said body member by said support member pivotally about a'tirst axis, rod means,v means for supporting said rod means by said body member rotatably about a second axis spaced from said first axis and lo.- cated at an angle to said rst axis, means operatively connected between said support member and said body member for pivotally adjusting the relative position between said body member and said support member around said iirst axis, means operably connected to said rod means for supporting a load, and means carried by said body member for rotating said rod means and adjusting the angular position of said rodmeans relative to said body member whereby the positionof said load supporting means is adjusted angularly relative to said body member around said second axis.

5. An adjustable link assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said supporting means comprises attachment members located at opposite ends of said rod means and on opposite sides of said second axis, and means connected to each attachment member on opposite sides of said second axis for operably supporting a load.

6. An adjustable link assembly for supporting a load by a crane hook at various angular positions therebetween, said link assembly comprising a support'member adapted to be lattached to a crane hook, a body member, means for supporting said body member by said support member for pivotal movement relative thereto, a rod supported by said body member for pivotal movement about an axis lying in the plane of pivotal movement of ment of said body member and the rotational turning of.

said rod around said rod axis.

7. An adjustable link assembly for supporting a load by a crane hook at various angular positions therebetween, said link assembly comprising a support member adapted to be attached to a crane hook, a body member, means for pivotally supporting said body member by said support member for movement about a iirst axis, a loadcarrying member having means for supporting a load thereon non-rotatably axially and transversely thereof, means for supporting said load carrying member by said body member for pivotal movement about a second axis at an angle to said first axis, means operatively connected between said support member and said body member for pivotally adjusting the relative angular position therebetween about said rst axis, and means operatively connected between said body member and said load carrying member for pivotally adjusting the relative angular position therebetween about said second axis.

8. An adjustable link assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said second axis lies in the plane of pivotal movement of said body member.

9. An adjustable link assembly as dened in claim 7 having a plurality of load-supporting means connected to said load-carrying member, each of said supporting means being attached to said load-carrying member at a position displaced transversely from both said iirst and second axes.

10. An adjustable link assembly comprising a support member, a body member, means for pivotally mounting said body memer o n said support member for movement around a first axis, a load-carrying member, means for mounting said load-carrying member on said body member for pivotal movement about a second axis at an angle to said rst axis, rst means for pivotally adjusting the relative angular position between said body member and sald support member about said first axis, second means for pivotally adjusting the relative angular position between said body member and said load carrying member about said second axis, :and means for supporting a load by said load-carrying member for pivotally tiltable movement of said load by the angular adjustment of both said rst and second means.

11. An adjustable link assembly as deiined in claim 10 wherein said second axis is spaced from said lirst axis and lies in the plane of pivotal movement of said body member.

12. An adjustable link assembly as dened in claim 10 wherein said iirst and second axes :are spaced apart and are positioned so that the vertical plane through one of said axes is positioned at an angle to the vertical plane through the other of said axes.

13. An adjustable link :assembly comprising a support member, a body member, means for pivotally mounting said body member on said support member for movement around a first axis, first means for adjusting the relative angular position between said body member and said support member, a load-carrying member having means for supporting a load non-rotatably axially and transversely thereof, means for operatively pivotally supporting said load-carrying member by said body member for movement around a second axis, and second means for adjusting the relative angular position between said load-carrying member and said body member, said rst axis being at an angle to said second axis whereby a load carried by said supporting means will be pivotally titled around said irst axis by said rst means and around said second axis by said second means.

14. An adjustable link assembly for supporting a load by a crane hook at various angular positions therebetween, said link assembly-cornprising a support member adapted to be attached to a crane hook for extending downwardly therefrom, a body member, means including a pin for pivotally supporting said body member on said support member, irst means connected between said support member and s'aid body member for pivoting said bodyv member relative to said support member, a load- `\supporting rod, means for pivotally supporting said roc on said body member at a position spaced from said pin in `a direction away from the crane hook, the pivotal axis of said rod being'positioned at an angle to the axis of said pin, second means connected between said rod and said body member for pivotally rotating said rod relative to said body member, a pair of attachment means non-rotatably ysecured to said rod and located transversely on opposite sides of the axis of said pin, and load-supporting means connected with each of said `attachment means at positions displaced transversely from the axis of said rod for supporting said load tiltably around said pin axis upon actuation of said iirst means and tiltably around said rod axis upon actuation of said second means.

15. An adjustable link assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein the axis of said rod is perpendicular to a line parallel to said pin and intersecting the axis of said rod.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 199,955 Box Feb. 5, 1878 672,303 Williams Apr. 16, 1901 1,218,531 Dilthey Mar. 6, 1917 1,831,346 Dina Nov. 10, 1931 1,956,614 Englehardt .l- May l, 1934 2,492,172 Morris Dec. 27, 1949 2,596,502 Moore May 13, 1952 2,629,625 Phillips Feb. 24, 1953 2,662,708 Schmitt Dec. 15, 1953 2,711,762 Gaskell June 28, 1955 2,721,049 Waldsmith Oct. 10, 1955 

